This restaurant is absolutely beautiful. It has one of the most stunning views and a very romantic atmosphere with live music. The service is great as well. However, the food is very average. Here is what I tried: 1. Quail appetizer- 3/5 2. Tuna crisp- 5/5 the best dish of the night 3. Scallops entree-3/5 and it took forever to come 4. Strawberry pannacota- 2/5. The dill was overpowering and did not compliment the other flavors. The pannacota was too set and the white chocolate disk on top too thick to crumble. The menu is very small and does not contain the "go tos" such as steak and seared ahi. Overall a nice restaurant with a gorgeous view but probably won't be back because of the food. read more

One of my favorite meals in a long time! Our server (who was in training), was great and really seemed to care about giving us good service. The meal was everything a foodie could hope for- delicious, well-timed, not rushed, and every bit left me wanting more. We had the tuna carpaccio to start. I had the duck- it was cooked to perfection; and my husband had the ribeye, again, perfection. The wine selection was decent and the view was breathtaking. We also enjoyed the live entertainment from the onsite wedding. Really just an incredible evening. read more

I would put this restaurant as one of the top restaurants, I've eaten in in my entire life. The food,, the drinks, the service, the view, the artwork, are all impeccable read more

One of the best dinners I've had all year. The service was immaculate. Everybody was kind and attentive without being overbearing. I never had to ask for a thing because all was anticipated. They even switched out my napkin to one that matched my outfit so there was no worry about lint accidentally coming off on my clothes. Every dish they served was unique and flavorful and the drinks were all expertly made. I look forward to celebrating more occasions here. read more

An outstanding anniversary dinner on the outside deck. The food was exceptional and the service (from Steve) impeccable. Each dish was full of flavors and each had a bit of 'unique' in it. Loved this place and its sophisticated yet very comfortable atmosphere. We will be back! read more

A.R. Valentien - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

Incredible place for breakfast / brunch. The place overall has a great view of course and the staff was friendly and responsive. I got the spinach, poached eggs, pancetta, shallots, with pine nuts and chili flakes (mouth full I know). At first I looked at my plate with reluctance because the plate looks like a pile of spinach with two poached eggs on top, but I enjoyed it more and more with each bite. The dish itself was hearty, but not too heavy, and the chili flakes worked well cut the richness of the eggs and pancetta. My only critique would be maybe add a wedge of lemon. read more

A.R. Valentien - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Amazing Mother's Day lunch. We had to wait a bit for our table to clear but we were treated to our cocktails for the extra wait. Food was delicious and the service impeccable. read more

Food was excellent. Service was top notch. Ambience was lovely. Everything was perfectly set up in this restaurant read more

A.R. Valentien - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

My family really enjoys eating out at higher end restaurants and without a doubt this was definitely one of the best meals we have eaten. For Father's Day i had purchased two stay & play packages at Torrey Pines golf course and when contacting to make reservations for our lodging the receptionist said "she heard AR valentien was good". Understatement of the year! Everything was so good, I almost don't want to come back because our first visit was so perfect. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable. Each course had significant variation on flavors. The cocktails were perfectly mixed. Everyone wanted to try what each other had ordered because it was so good. All of the appetizers were so phenomenal we had to ensure to order different main courses so we had less things to miss out on. Honestly can't say enough good things about this restaurant. I would give 6 stars if I could... read more

Over-priced, stuffy pretentious staff. Hit and miss on food. It mostly over-priced.

Very special experience here with top notch service, unusual and delicious dishes. Everything we experienced was first class. A great place to go if you want to feel pampered and treated to a top quality meal. While not inexpensive it is well worth the cost. You definetly have a memorable time. read more

Been here many times, but this review is for breakfast on 9/10/16 and 9/11/16. Weekend staycation celebration of a birthday. Kate was our server. She's new! From Syracuse, NY, and I grew up in the area(not many of us in SD). Reddish hair, blue eyes that focus on you like a laser beam....we relate! Has to be said....exceptional service. On Saturday, I had the "crisp" polenta(not really!) with poached eggs and sausage gravy, on Sunday, the house cured smoked salmon with cucumber on avocado sourdough toast. My lovely SO had oatmeal on Saturday and the lemon pancakes on Sunday. She was happy with oatmeal but purring with pleasure over the pancakes! The prices of food are commensurate with the area, and we will be back just to take in a nice view, have great food and (hopefully) superior service. Wish Kate the best, she is AWESOME!!! Ambiance/Cleanliness-Very clean, classical music gently playing in the background, spectacular view of Torrey Pines golf course.....simply amazing. 5 stars Service....5 stars Food.....it was very good. Not the best that I have ever eaten, but worth another trip and soon....4 stars read more

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What a Fantastic Evening! Some friends of ours made dinner reservations; I had never heard of nor been to this restaurant located in The Lodge Torrey Pines (Hotel & Golf Course), but I love trying new places There's very little lighting as you enter the property (thank goodness for GPS). At the entrance, there is complimentary valet parking. Nice (plus, the valets were friendly)! You walk through the lobby, through a lounge to get to the restaurant host. The rest of our party had not arrived, so we headed to the lounge for a drink. Shortly thereafter, our friends arrived and we were taken to our seats. I was THRILLED when we were led outside, overlooking the pool (I had hoped, while having a cocktail in the lounge we were seated outside). It was a beautiful night and although it was a bit chilly, there were plenty of heaters on the patio (although after a couple of hours, the top of my head felt cooked). I opted for the Tasting Menu w/Wine pairings. This was 4 courses (although the chef added a couple of complimentary dishes). EACH Dish was Flavorful and the Wine Pairings were complementary. Amuse Lobster Pasta Hanger Steak Deconstructed Apple Pie Donuts/Cupcakes/Cookie As if the Food wasn't enough, Service was Excellent (even when I spilled one of my wine glasses; not only was he fast cleaning it up, he repoured my glass)! This restaurant would be great for a romantic dinner date, too. But for our party of 4, we had such a good time, we ended up back in the lounge until closing. read more

A.R. Valentien - Deconstructed Apple Pie & Beringer Nightingale - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

We came here to celebrate a special occasion and spent 2.5 hours dining here for dinner. We were offered a table on the patio that overlooks the pool and part of the golf course. The patio has heat lamps so thankfully it wasn't too cold. We ordered a couple glasses of wine to start the evening - Justin Cab and Riesling. One of he servers came out with bread for us to select - white, grain or homemade biscuit. I opted for the biscuit and it was warm and amazing!!! We ordered the following: -Butter Poached Maine Lobster, Tempura Squash Blossom, Carrot, Citrus and Green Coriander ($18) -Green Kale, Quinoa and Local Strawberry Salad, Crispy Pork Belly, Humboldt ($16) -Alaskan Sablefish ($36) -Liberty Duck Breast and Confit Leg ($38) -Duck Fat Smashed Potatoes with Creme Fraiche and Caramelized Onion ($8) -Chocolate and Hazelnut Trifle, Chocolate Custard, Hazelnut Dacquoise, Camelia Creme and Salted Caramel Ice Cream ($12) -Vanilla Chiffon Cake, Strawberry Fraiche Sorbet, and Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Crumble ($12) -Reg coffee and Decaf In between our meals we were offered an amuse bouche, a tart sorbet to cleanse our palate and little sweets (warm donuts, cheesecake and cupcakes) at the very end of our meal comps of the chef. The star foods of the night were the Green Kale Salad, Duck Breast Entree and both desserts. The ambiance is very romantic, and the service was awesome. We had an amazing experience, and the dinner was very good. The restaurant is on the higher end so come when it's a special occasion! Of note: There is a 4 course tasting menu available for $75pp. $115 with wine pairing. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in San Diego, AR Valentien is located within The Lodge at Torrey Pines. For just $27, you can get their Prix Fixe Local Lunch Special which includes 3 courses that uses local ingredients and is changed monthly. I am always impressed every time I have lunch here and its unbelievable that the prix fixe menu is this affordable when the quality is so high. Every dish is well balanced with each component complementing one another. You probably can't go wrong with any of the dishes, but you must definitely try the Charcuterie Platter as it contains the most deliciously smooth and LUXURIOUS chicken liver pate ever! During the hot summer days, it is nice to sit outside on the terrace that overlooks the gold greenery next door. My boyfriend and I have always went on Saturdays for lunch and it has never been busy during the times that we went (perhaps we were lucky because I see reviews about it being crowded). read more

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First time dining at the upscale (but mostly casual) A.R. Valentien in The Lodge At Torrey Pines. The place is gorgeous, if a little far from any freeway exit. Looks like it was built in the 20s, lots of Tiffany-looking stained glass windows, big Brazilian wood pillars, beautiful dining room with cozy booths and also tables, lush decor, great patio overlooking the golf course and ocean. Superior service. The wait staff were super attentive without being overbearing. Very knowledgeable, took the time to explain each of the dishes and answer questions. First they brought us a tiny little amuse bouche....a tiny duck pate pastry that was flaky and a delicious mouthful. Then we ordered the pear and baby lettuces salad. Absolutely delicious, fresh, light aromas, with pieces of persimmon and a tiny chunk of the THE MOST delicious cheese: Humboldt Fog cheese. Indescribably delicious. Ann had wine and liked what she got. This place only serves California wine, no foreign brands, but hey what's wrong with that. Cali has great wines. Now we come to the main dishes and here's where the problem lies. Ann had the appetizer ravioli as her main course and it looked absolutely delicious. There were three big ravioli with squash and mascarpone filling. She said the flavors were wonderful. I ordered the fish that was recommended by the server. It was sablefish (never heard of it), which is a white fish served in a mushroom broth. Even just thinking of it makes me want to retch. The fish was VERY oily and slimy, gelatinous. Not only that but the taste of it was yechh... it had a dull, flat taste, nothing delicious. It was swimming in its broth so that made it ever more heavy, tasteless and creepy. I sent it back and the waiter offered to bring me some salmon. So I accepted. Another bad dish. The salmon was also swimming in sauce. I have never had salmon this way. It ruined completely the usually light and flaky texture, and the flavor of the salmon was lost in the soupy sauce. It almost had the texture of meat. Maybe that was the point. In any event, I took one bite and put it aside and to the restaurant's credit, they didn't charge us for either of the fish. I contented myself with the wonderful sauteed spinach I had ordered on the side, and they brought a complimentary dish of sauteed white asparagus which were really very nice. The two fish dishes reminded me of some very heavy meals I had in Germany. Maybe a simple flaky salmon dish is not in this chef's repertoire. At the end, they brought us a delightful little dish of freshly baked pastries, a sampler, with a snickerdoodle cookie, a little brownie, a little two-bite-size carrot cake. I have to say that I was so disappointed with my main courses that I wouldn't go here again. If you're heading this way, have a steak. read more

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I have enjoyed several dinners at A R Valentien over the last several years. Service is always very good and professional. Food is always very well prepared, though the menu is not very broad. Wine list is really very good, though few bargains to be found. You should review first to make sure you will find something that suits you and your party's tastes. My last experience (from today) was souring though. I was looking forward to joining my partner and 2 of our closest friends for dinner there tonight, but awoke with a bit of a cough and runny nose so figured that discretion was the better part of valor, and we alerted the front desk that we would need to cancel for tonight. Even though we explained that this was unforeseeable and through no fault of our own, we were told that we would still be charged the $20/person cancellation fee. Well...it probably goes without saying that every restaurant manages this in its own way --- and the way they treat their repeat customers determines whether they keep coming back. For us...we are gone for good. read more

A.R. Valentien, named after the artist, is currently seating on the patio overlooking the golf course and it is quite the view for a sunset dinner. The entrance has woodsy, grand lodge feel to it (of course right? it's at The Lodge at Torrey Pines). We ordered nearly everything on the menu (the Liberty duck duo, sea bass, pates, and surprisingly the roasted chicken were favorites) and it was a relaxed, thoroughly enjoyable meal. Service was wonderful and even on a cooler night, the patio was comfortable thanks to the heaters. We liked it so much that we returned the following week to treat a friend to his 40th birthday dinner. This one is definitely one of our favorites. read more

Despite living close by and getting married at The Lodge, I had never been to this restaurant before. My husband and I decided it would be fitting to go here for our three year anniversary this week and we were not disappointed. I love how quiet and peaceful The Lodge is generally, and this restaurant was no exception. There's nothing worse than spending a lot of money at a restaurant where you have to yell to your dining companion. The restaurant was so calm and serene and made for a great intimate experience. Everyone kept on wishing us a happy anniversary which make it extra special. I was offered some complimentary refill of the sparkling wine I was drinking and our dessert had a happy anniversary greeting on it. Service was perfect and attentive. No course was rushed and it was nicely paced. We ordered A LOT of food. We of course had their complimentary breads (the biscuits are awesome) and were offered an amuse bouche that involved a cucumber. We started with the duck liver pate and also the smoked trout appetizers. Both were delicious but I loved the duck liver especially with the seedy mustard. My husband had a Caesar salad and I had the heirloom tomato salad which had fresh burrata, fried green tomatoes and the most perfect heirloom tomatoes. It was one of my favorite parts of the meal! For our main courses I had salmon which was a surprisingly big portion size and my husband had a steak. We had the smashed potatoes as a side and the chef brought out some complimentary vegetables as well. We also shared a cheese plate because why not? For dessert I chose the baked apple which was a baked apple with apple pie filling inside and bourbon ice cream and it was perfect for the bringing in the fall season. I'm glad to say this restaurant did not disappoint me at all! The Lodge remains my favorite hotel in San Diego and their food is no exception. Definitely would come back here again. read more

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I went for my 30th and the service, food, and view/ambiance were stellar. Firstly, all of the staff wished me happy birthday throughout the night which I appreciated the attentiveness to detail. They even printed on the menu "happy 30th birthday" which I thought was sweet. Our waitress, Grace, was absolutely wonderful and had the best recommendations throughout the night. She recommended we start with the charcuterie with the chicken liver pate and it was so flavorful, yet light. Everything from the bread to the complimentary amuse bouche made for a perfect evening. For our entrees, we had the Duck Breast Gnocchi and the Rack of Lamb which were both perfectly cooked and had so much flavor. The outdoor patio overlooks the greens and the coast as the sun sets. We ended the evening with the Hazelnut Financier, as recommended by Grace, and it was the perfect end to our dining experience. It was a wonderful experience through and through for a special occasion. From the attention to detail to the service and food, I have the upmost praise. read more

A.R. Valentien - Duck Breast Gnocchi, Broccolini, and Rack of Lamb - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

Incredible food and view! Prices are definitely quite high, so this is more of a once-a-year type of place, especially given breakfast is eggs & carbs. read more

Breakfast is my favorite meal here and you do not need a reservation. It is rare to find true gourmet food at breakfast with a gorgeous comfortable quiet setting. Lemon ricotta pancakes star, along with a side order of ham that is glorious. A short list of specialty pastries also appeals. You can sit indoors in plush booths or in a charming dining room or on the outdoor patio surrounded by Torrey Pine trees. When you want a truly memorable high-end meal, why not do it at breakfast instead of dinner? The price is not insurmountable when you do your gourmet resort-class dining in the morning. read more

Expecting an enlightening dinner for celebration ; I am totally disappointed with where we were seated, blocked by cabana awing and railing... read more

A.R. Valentien - Hoping for golf course view, and - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

I am not sure what to say, but I guess the easiest place to start is that it came up short. I have dined in some amazing restaurants and venues, in amazing places and other countries. The aesthetic of the Lodge is amazing, reaches out to my Craftsman and Greene and Greene inclinations. The lines are clean and distinct, the vibe warm. The restaurant is good, but not great. I was waiting to be wowed, by any item on the menu, right up until our exit. It makes me wonder how much else at the Inn is pretense and fluff vs stellar accommodations, with attention to detail. I am glad I went there. But I can think of better dining in coastal Southern California. read more

Our family has celebrated at AR Valentine in the Lodge for special family occasions and for work-related private parties since the 2000's. It's our go-to. Since COVID, we dine out less frequently, so it is very special to take the family out to a fine restaurant. However, we had a disappointing, mediocre dinner on Saturday, 3.9.24. Two orders of pork loin and one order of sea bass went uneaten. The sea bass was overcooked, the sauce was unappealing and the pork loin was fatty and tasteless. Very sorry to provide this negative feedback. What happened??? read more

We were in town for a staycation and AR Valentien was at the top of our list for dining. Wonderful spot for a special occasion dinner that isn't too stuffy or snobby. Service is friendly, informative, and accommodating. My husband and I ordered individual starters and entrees. While we enjoyed the starters, the entrees were the stand outs. The duck and ribeye were perfectly prepared and delicious. Dessert was just ok but not bad. Great selection of wines and pairing suggestions were spot-on. Would visit again and next time would probably come early to enjoy the grounds and a cocktail prior to dinner. read more

First off, service was great. Drinks and wine list also very good. Menu in my opinion was limited, I found it difficult to make a choice. Spouse had the Halibut, it was good but not over the top. I had the ribeye, probably the worst steak I have ever had in a prime restaurant. For a $300 anniversary dinner, I was seriously disappointed read more

Food made me sick and it was NOT worth what we paid. $22 for an extra lamb chop that was offered as if it was complementary. Too salty and uninspired for those prices. The restaurant ambiance was boring and stuffy and had zero energy. read more

Came in for breakfast and the weather was perfect - lucky that we got a seat on the patio with a pool/golf course/ocean view. The green smoothie was very inspiring. Lemon ricotta pancake was recommended by server as a popular item, which lived up to its name. Salmon avocado toast was surprisingly good for breakfast! Left the place inspired to make a smoothie just like the one I had. read more

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They're allowing eating on the deck and the ambiance is perfect. A deck seating overlooking the sunset, Torrey pine trees and a golf course. What else could you want for a nice dinner? A little pricey but well worth it. The duck was amazing and fell off the bone, and the halibut was top notch. All the desserts are unique and well worth ordering. read more

A.R. Valentien - Sunset on the deck - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

Very good experience, excellent food and service. Beautiful setting, did not disappoint

First time ever to this restaurant. My friends Lucy and Frank won a raffle at Yelp's Halloween event and it was lunch for four at A.R. Valentien and had the honor to be invited along with another Yelper Venessa. There is valet and self parking (fairly easy). The place is like going to a Frank Lloyd Wright craftsman lodge. We looked at the decorations in the lobby after lunch because we booked a 12:30 pm reservation and was there on time. Although we were seated fairly quickly, a tiny glitch on the actual lunch offer on what the offer was $200 voucher basically (resolved). The lunch menu had 2 courses and also had the options of a Lunch course offered - swordfish was the main entry for this option. Frank and I opted for ordering from the 1st and 2nd course. We both ordered the butter poached lobster (delicious and tender). He ordered the hanger steak (done to his liking) and I ordered the seared ahi tuna (meaty and delicious). The ladies in our company ordered the Lunch course, salad, swordfish with risotto and a dessert. All the dishes came out in time and deliciously devoured individually by us! We had some warm bread (choice of sour dough and mutigrain) and our Bread server - Armando came several times to offer this. He also help take some pictures in the outdoor patio. Lucy brought champagne (so you really can call this the Champagne lunch) - corkage fee. Overall, this was a wonderful experience, all the dishes were superbly prepared and let's say we all cleaned our plates of the entrees and 1st course. Thank you very much for my friends for inviting us to join them on this lovely Saturday afternoon. Thanks to A.R. Valentien for the donated lunch for four. I definitely recommend this place for lunch since the pricing and the atmosphere (a bit older crowd) was perfect on a nice day. Dinner might be a little pricier since this is a high end restaurant. But the lunch pricing was not at all too bad. The lunch course had 3 courses (starter, entree and desser) for $42. Prices are probably fluid so I would not make this the definite price point. But even if you order 2 courses and share a dessert (without alcohol) you probably would spend around the same. Next time if they have Restaurant Week specials, definitely check it out. read more

I don't think we could ask for a better day to visit a beautiful restaurant over looking the golf course and cliffs of Torrey Pines. The ambiance was top notch... outdoor seating is better but it was cold so we opted for a table inside. It was a little quiet inside the restaurant but once the food arrived I wasn't too worried about the atmosphere. The food was amazing and the service was prompt. The restaurant does happy hour so if you are in the area I'd stop in for a drink and apps anytime. Great for a romantic date night. Make sure to go for the sunset because its spectacular. read more

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We had six for a birthday dinner at A.R.Valentien. The service at the restaurant is excellent. We ordered three appetizers to share. They we nice quality but smaller portions than expected. For the main course we had three orders of scallops, Beef shank, duck breast and strip steak. All of the main courses were well prepared. The wine list is extensive. We all shared deserts and were presented a desert tray with a nice selection of chocolates. Overall, an expensive but enjoyable evening. read more

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Excellent customer service and flavorful fresh food. First of all, I was very impressed seeing my name on the menu...very personalized. They even rolled it up for me so I can take it home as a souvenir. Second, my steak and my husband's swordfish were cooked perfectly, not over cooked at all. Everything was fresh and seasoned to perfection. Last but definitely not the least, all the little gifts from the kitchen made my experience more special. Almost forgot, and this is big, I never ran out of water in my glass. Thank you for making my birthday dinner extra special. read more

What a wonderful dinner service!!! We started off with the melon and grape salad which was light and a good first course along with the Japanese milk bread with prosciutto and honey butter. 2nd course was roasted Liberty duck and Brandt rib eye cap. Both are soooo delicious, wonderful tastes. Wish we had room for dessert though. Service was perfectly attentive. The view is beautiful overlooking the golf course and pool. Watched sunset read more

A.R. Valentien - Table with a view - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

I found 2 hairs in my duck meal. Also the staff seem very discriminating. After finishing eating and asking for the managers contact info to let them know about the experience, the "on duty manager" Justin straight up said "no". And didn't give us anyone to reach out to. Seems really weird you can't give your GM's info when a customer asks for it? What are you hiding? Torrey Pines golf course is amazing, but this place I will never be back to. read more

Had breakfast on a special occasion. Upscale restaurant with attention to details both aesthetics and in food preparation. Very polite and well trained servers. The usual choices on the breakfast menu. Food was refined but not creative. If you like what I just described then you should come here and ignore my rating. Personally I did not find the experience to be either memorable or interesting. read more

First class from greeting, to service, setting, and food. The outdoor area provides a great setting and views. We had a ribeye and scallops after a cup of squash soup and house salad. All the food was perfectly prepared. They provided and few extra tastes as well that added some unique additions. They offered a few choices of breads and we really liked the corn bread. We also shared a chocolate rum cake and they added another couple of bites to the desert. Between the wine chives and after meal coffee and all the food, we were very satisfied. We love coming here for special occasions. If you don't have a great time here, I suggest you look in the mirror. read more

Excellent food, ambiance, and service. Our server the last two times, Willow, was exceptional. The wine selection is always outstanding. We have been dining at the Lodge for over 20 years and will keep coming back. read more